Forestry based products as climate change solution: Integrating life cycle assessment with techno-economic analysis. (15th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vazifeh, Zahra; Bensebaa, Farid; Shadbahr, Jalil; Gonzales-Calienes, Giovanna; Mafakheri, Fereshteh; Benali, Marzouk; Ebadian, Mahmood; Vézina, Pierre
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 330(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03-15
• Subjects: Techno-economic analysis -- Life cycle assessment -- Biorefinery -- GHG emission -- Wood pellet; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117197
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: This study establishes an integrated life cycle analysis and techno-economic assessment to evaluate costs and carbon footprint impacts of an integrated forest biorefinery that produces lumber, industrial sugar and wood pellets in a planned biomass conversion center in the Pontiac region of Quebec (Canada). An integrated evaluation approach combining levelized cost and carbon footprint accounting was adopted for assessing the implementation of this novel advanced biorefinery concept taking into account different biomass feedstock, diversified product portfolio (sugar, lignin, bio-oil, electricity and lumber) and multiple biomass conversion technologies. The conclusion of this study is that if the GHG emission is considered as the basis of the ranking system, the production of wood pellets would emit less (1.2 kg/T) and that of lumber, and sugar would emit most respectively (3.3 kg/T and 98.4 kg/DT). This is whereas if the ranking would be performed based on the cost, the sequence would be the production of lumber, pellet, and sugar. Highlights: Combine life cycle analysis and techno-economic assessment to evaluate costs and carbon footprint impacts of lumber, sugar, and pellet under an integrated Biomass Conversion Center. Apply volume based allocation for the impact of the upstream stages on the different products. Applying the concept of capital expenditure and operational expenditures for economic analysis. Pellet production has the lowest level of greenhouse gas emission comparing with lumber and sugar .